Champion Rules

Chapter 129, Section 125: Now is the time to test your souls (Seeking monthly votes!)
Deron Williams noticed Carlos Boozer's trembling as he suppressed a laugh behind him, which made the back of his neck burn.

The incident last season when he was publicly criticized and went to his college coach to cry is a past event that Deron Williams never wants to mention again.

That made him look like a pushover who went home to his dad after being bullied.

If it were a high school player running home to his father, that would be one thing, but Deron Williams had already finished his junior year of college when he entered the league; he was a genuine "adult."

In the NBA, which values ​​toughness, his behavior was undoubtedly ridiculed.

With the Utah Jazz starting the season with a 12-2 record, this matter has been rarely mentioned.

The Utah Jazz are unstoppable, and most people don't want to further provoke Deron Williams on that basis.

The chants from the Energy Solutions Arena fans were already annoying enough; there was no need to ignite that highly impactful young point guard as well.

But just now, Lin Qi casually reopened his wounds.

His words were like a giant 25-centimeter drill bit, piercing through the maximum range that Deron Williams could withstand, making him tremble all over.

"Instead of worrying about my tear ducts, I should think about how to get these museum exhibits out of Utah alive!" Deron Williams pointed at Marbury, wanting to unleash his anger on those old bones.

"Didn't you understand what I said?" Lin Qi didn't back down. "Don't cry later, rookie!"

During his first two seasons as a rookie, Lynch disliked being called a rookie the most.

Now, his favorite thing to do is call others "newbies".

Do unto others what you would not have them do unto you.

The game began, and Lynch passed the ball to Marbury, gaining possession of the ball first.

Deron Williams started the game by pressuring Marbury on defense, trying to force him into turnovers.

"He's a fucking bull!" Sam Cassell grumbled from the bench.

Derrick Williams is a true heavyweight point guard, with a physique similar to Gilbert Arenas and Dwyane Wade.

And because of his excellent physical attributes, he won't just be like another heavy point guard, Derek Fisher, who only knows how to pull up his pants on the defensive end.

Deron Williams can put in a lot of effort to play a very aggressive defensive role at point guard.

Facing Deron Williams' close marking, Stephon Marbury used a beautiful behind-the-back dribble to change his center of gravity and direction, creating a slight opening before accelerating his drive to the basket.

But Deron Williams easily caught up with him and used his stronger body to force Marbury to stop.

Marbury's explosiveness is not what it used to be, but it certainly didn't disappear suddenly during the offseason. In fact, he doesn't even know when his explosiveness disappeared.

It's like how it's hard for a person to realize that they are growing taller, or that their hair is getting longer.

But these things keep happening.

When you realize all of this, it means that your change has already been enormous.

Marbury only remembers how sharp his drives were when he first partnered with Lynch. But now, just two years later, he's finding it hard to shake off his defenders.

Those days of dominating the streets of Coney Island and the NBA arena are eventually fading away under the scorching heat of time.

"Hey buddy, need a wheelchair?" Deron Williams grinned, revealing his white teeth, enjoying the matchup against Chris Paul.

Marbury didn't get caught up in one-on-one play; instead, he passed the ball to Lynch, who was leaning on Boozer.

Lynch prepared to post up, but Russian Andrei Kirilenko quickly double-teamed him.

Turkish center forward Mehmet Okur also came forward to meet him.

Now, Lin Qi understands why Yao Ming struggled so much against the Jazz.

As a low-post threat, Yao Ming always faced similar defenses whenever he received the ball in the low post, and the Jazz's double-teams came very decisively.

He is a center forward who is not quick enough to pass the ball – although he can occasionally deliver some brilliant passes, he is not really a low-post playmaker.

The Jazz still cannot limit Yao Ming's output, but they can force him to struggle with high turnovers and low efficiency.

Now, the Jazz are trying to use the same method against Lynch.

But Lynch and Yao Ming are completely different players.

The moment the double team was formed, Lin Qi used a hook shot to throw the ball towards the basket while surrounded by three defenders.

Tyson Chandler, positioned under the basket, understood perfectly and launched a powerful alley-oop dunk, the jarring sound instantly drowning out the boos from the 20,000 spectators at the Energy Solutions Arena.

"This is like Magic Johnson's ghost being resurrected in the modern era!" Hubie Brown, the commentator, exclaimed tonight. "I've always said that Lynch's offensive impact is only missing Magic Johnson's ball-handling skills. He can hook shots, pass the ball, and post up the ball. The title of 'best defensive player in the league' is an insult to Lynch. His offense is just as beautiful. He is one of the best players in the league."

Hubie Brown, who has witnessed firsthand how Magic Johnson plays, has always believed that the similarities between the two are underestimated.

Lynch, who had just arrived in North America from Europe, was indeed unrelated to magicians, but as Lynch has evolved, he has become increasingly similar to magicians.

Lynch had the Jazz's defense sorted out, but the Jazz's trump card had only just been unleashed.

Deron Williams dribbled across half-court, chewing gum, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement.

Jerry Sloan was certain that Carlos Boozer would keep Lynch firmly in check tonight.

Boozer isn't a traditional power forward; he's more of a swingman at the three or four position. He can use his excellent agility and off-ball movement to find scoring opportunities, possesses a deadly mid-range shot, and is adept at driving to the basket.

His offensive methods are very diverse, making him difficult to defend against.

Those taller than him aren't as fast, and they'll be killed by his mid-range shot. Those faster than him aren't as tall, and they can't handle him close to the basket for a layup.

Center help defense? Your center has already been pulled to the perimeter by the Turks.

Most of the time, Boozer is outmatched by everyone, which is his advantage.

Of course, Carlos Boozer isn't quite at the superstar level yet. If Lynch defends him with all his might, he won't be able to cause much of a stir tonight.

But this is precisely the most fatal flaw: Lynch has to focus all his energy on Carlos Boozer. It's like locking a novelist to a table, preventing him from doing anything but writing.

Carlos Boozer's peak was between 06 and 08, and his performance began to decline after a serious injury in the 08-09 season.

If any ordinary player were to face Boozer at this stage, he would definitely be able to contribute 20 points, so Lynch would have no chance of getting away.

This means that the Knicks' aging backcourt, lacking Lynch's protection, will be completely exposed to Deron Williams.

Therefore, Deron Williams only needs to dominate the Knicks' backcourt to revitalize the Jazz's offense.

As Deron Williams approached the three-point line, Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan slammed his clipboard on the sidelines, signaling to execute the signature UCLA pick-and-roll.

However, the arrogant young point guard raised his arm to signal his teammates to scatter, and grinned at the coaching bench: "No, I'm going to take on this old guy one-on-one!"

Jerry Sloan cursed from the sidelines, but Deron Williams remained obstinate.

The reasons why these two people would eventually fall out were actually foreshadowed long ago.

Facing Eddie Jones' defense, Deron lowered his center of gravity and suddenly exerted force with his foot.

His explosive power allowed him to be shoulder-to-shoulder with the defender the instant he started moving. Just as Eddie Jones was trying to move laterally to block him, Deron suddenly pulled the ball back from between his legs, completing an exaggerated crossover with a screeching sound of his shoes.

Deron Williams' offensive talent is unparalleled. He is a heavy point guard, but unlike most heavy guards who rely on their buttocks and physical strength to drive to the basket, Deron also possesses explosive power and top-notch ball handling, which makes his crossovers incredibly quick.

This maneuver, which perfectly blends sudden stops and starts with a change of direction, made the fingertips of the photographers on the sidelines tremble as they pressed the shutter.

Even a top-tier perimeter defender like Kobe Bryant would become the backdrop for his dazzling crossovers on certain possessions.

Eddie Jones, who was half a body length ahead, gritted his teeth and tried to make up for his sluggish footwork with his experience. He immediately challenged Deron Williams, but Deron's strong body had already crushed into the penalty area like a battering ram.

"Oh shit!"

Eddie Jones yelled, but he didn't give up. He still tried his best to stick to Deron Williams and challenge him as much as possible, showing maximum defensive effort.

Ultimately, Deron Williams still managed to score a layup in the heat of battle.

"This shitty defense has to stop right now!" Deron Williams shouted deliberately at the Knicks' bench after scoring.

Hubie Brown shook his head helplessly: "Charles may be right, tonight is not a perfect comeback day for the Knicks' veterans."

Philip Sanders ignored Deron Williams's yelling, but Mike Malone couldn't stand it.

"First, get rid of those hideous, shit-like tattoos!"

Mike Malone's attack failed to work, completely missing Deron's sore spot. Instead, he became even more arrogant, gesturing wildly towards the Knicks' bench.

Amir Johnson couldn't stand it anymore either. Sitting by the water cooler, he poked his head out and said, "Coach, why not let Lynch play the three and focus on help defense, and let the second-best power forward in the East go up against Carlos? Have you forgotten that you still have the second-best power forward in the East on your bench? Your second-best power forward in the East is always ready to go!"

Without turning his head, Philip Sanders said, "Shut up! Go get me a glass of water!"

"Oh."

Deron Williams smiled smugly; he knew the Knicks' aging backcourt was no match for him.

The Jazz's offense was quickly disrupted a second time when Lynch assisted Michael Pietrus in a three-pointer, making it 5-2.

But it's clear that Deron Williams doesn't care about losing points.

This play satisfied Jerry Sloan's desire for control, with him and Boozer executing a classic pick-and-roll.

Lynch immediately switched to defend Deron Williams, who used a tiny gap to bounce the ball to Boozer.

He's a strong scorer, but at heart he's a traditional point guard with solid passing skills and excellent court vision. He's not just good at fast breaks; his ability to exploit gaps in half-court offense is equally top-notch. Boozer received the ball and executed his signature pull-up jumper. Lynch quickly got back into position to block, but Boozer's accuracy was more than capable of handling that level of interference.

"Shh!"

Carlos Boozer, who successfully scored over Lynch, silently ran back to his half of the court. This shrewd opportunist always knew how to keep a low profile.

But Deron Williams continued his tirade: "Tonight, even Lynch can't save you bunch of trash!"

Deron Williams's violent tendencies nearly tore the court apart; he became incredibly frenzied, and Lynch's act of reopening his wounds fueled his thirst for revenge.

Looking at the rebellious Deron Williams, Lynch understood perfectly why Jerry Sloan was so disappointed that he retired from the NBA after falling out with Deron.

Jerry Sloan poured his heart and soul into nurturing this rough gem. To help Deron integrate into the team, the veteran coach Sloan went to great lengths to give him private coaching, patiently explaining tactics and guiding him step by step to familiarize him with the system, making him one of the best point guards in the league.

There are very few head coaches in the entire history of the NBA who have been so patient with rookies.

As a result, the children he painstakingly raised always defied him. If Jerry Sloan told him to go east, he would go west. If he was asked to execute a certain tactic, he would insist on using the opposite tactic.

It's because the media often says, "Deron Williams is just a system player; he's nothing without Jerry."

Ultimately, with the words "You have your rights, and I have my abilities," Jerry Sloan and his relationship broke down in a heartbreaking way.

Anyone who has coached Deron Williams would feel disheartened.

This guy is more rebellious than people imagine, and more eager to prove himself than people imagine.

Tonight, the switch for Deron's rebellion has undoubtedly been flipped again.

Therefore, he will use the most aggressive offense and the most vicious trash talk to deal with the Knicks.

Halfway through the first quarter, the score remained close.

The Utah Jazz can't kill Lynch.

But the Knicks couldn't contain Deron Williams either.

The prediction that "Lynch will win, but the game will be tough" is slowly coming true.

The game was paused, and Eddie Jones, panting heavily, stared at his trembling knees.

The sound of Deron Williams' shoes rubbing against the floor as he changed direction still echoes in my ears. This forward/guard, who has been selected to the All-Defensive Team multiple times, was as clumsy as an old bull being toyed with by a matador tonight.

Every dramatic change of direction by Deron Williams felt like a humiliation to him.

Stephon Marbury also tried to defend Deron Williams a few times, but the results were equally unsatisfactory.

Lynch didn't blame them. He never blamed those who wanted to win and had already given their all, and that never changed.

Compared to those who surrender, the weak are not so shameful.

But the veterans were very unhappy; they had just told Lynch last night to focus on dealing with Carlos Boozer.

Sam Cassell knew that the most important thing now was not to let his mentality be broken.

The 95 rocket was able to persevere all the way because of its unwavering spirit in the face of adversity.

Deron Williams isn't at a level that's completely unstoppable. If you keep putting pressure on him, his efficiency will eventually drop.

So Sam Cassell clapped his hands hard, his face contorted with rage, and yelled at Marbury and Eddie Jones, and also at himself: "Now is the time to test your souls!"

This is a famous quote from Thomas Paine, the father of the American system.

This quote first appeared in Common Sense in 1776, encouraging the American people to fight for independence from Britain.

Sam Cassell injected energy into the team, and Eddie Jones clenched his fists, taking a deep breath. He wouldn't let Lynch tolerate him any longer!
Flip Saunders was preparing to make a substitution; he needed to check if Eddie Jones and Stephon Marbury, who had just returned from injury, were feeling good: "How are you two feeling?"

Then, Philip Sanders swore that Eddie Jones and Stephon Marbury looked even more like beasts than Deron Williams had just done.

"We feel great, Coach!"

The game continued, and the Knicks had possession. The Knicks were shooting well from the perimeter tonight, so Andrei Kirilenko was hesitant to double-team them too much.

In a mid-range one-on-one situation against Boozer, Lynch drove straight in and easily scored a layup, relying on his size advantage.

Without help defense and double teams, Carlos Boozer can't defend against anyone or dominate anyone.

Lynch led his team to regain a 3-point lead at 16-13.

Deron Williams, however, showed no sign of urgency: "Stephen, Eddie, I thought you guys were going to be substituted. What? Who wants to die this round?"

Lynch was about to retort when Eddie Jones took the initiative to attack.

"Fuck you, you're just a system player."

Deron Williams' jaw muscles tensed suddenly, and he almost crushed his teeth.

You're all finished!

Deron Williams confidently moved closer again. He scored 8 of the Jazz's 13 points, and the other two baskets came from his assists. All of the team's points so far have been directly related to him.

His opponent was the defending champion, who was known for his strong defense.

He's far too confident.

Eddie Jones's continued vigilance surprised Deron Williams.

In Deron Williams' view, defense and play are no different. Too many losses can lead to huge frustration, and frustration can make defense even worse.

But Eddie Jones broke this convention, remaining steadfast despite repeated crushing defeats.

Deron Williams laughed in exasperation; he wanted to see how long these old bones could hold out!
The roar of Salt Lake City reached its peak the moment Deron Williams started his drive. Change of direction, acceleration, and breakthroughs—Deron Williams' offense was no different; facing the basket with the ball was his fundamental strategy.

But this time, as Deron Williams was about to pass Eddie Jones, the basketball in his hand suddenly flew away.

The experienced Eddie Jones, having gotten used to Deron Williams' rhythm in the first half of the game, found the perfect opportunity to steal the ball!

Stephon Marbury immediately rushed out, picked up the out-of-control basketball, and the moment he pushed off the ground, it was as if he shattered the shackles of time, and then made a fast break and scored a layup!
"The old boys' comeback!" Hubie Brown pumped his fist, while Marbury and Eddie Jones pointed at each other on the court.

Jerry Sloan, having had enough, smashed his clipboard: "Stop fucking obsessed with one-on-one! Damn it! This damn individualism! Do you think this is a one-on-one show at Rucker Park? Get the ball moving, you bastard!"

Marbury added fuel to the fire: "It's best to listen to the coach and be a puppet of the system."

Deron Williams' eyes instantly turned bloodshot. He fell silent, his only thought now being to hit the ball in response.

However, Deron Williams, in his second year, was not so rebellious as to completely ignore Sloan, so when Sloan smashed the clipboard, he obediently chose to run a pick and roll.

This was indeed the Jazz's most difficult tactic to break, and Lynch had no choice but to delay the move, even though he knew it might leave Boozer open.

Unlike most penetrating guards, Deron Williams also has an excellent touch when shooting after a pick-and-roll, so you have to shut down all his opportunities immediately.

Seeing Lynch switch on defense, Deron Williams almost reflexively passed the ball to Boozer.

But this time, the basketball ended up in Stephon Marbury's hands behind the training base!
He had already found the perfect moment to move toward the passing lane based on his extensive experience, disrupting the connection between Deron Williams and Boozer!

Deron Williams has strong playmaking abilities, but he's not top-tier. His biggest problem is that he's not as good at controlling turnovers as players like Paul and Nash.

Marbury made the steal and immediately pushed the ball up the court, but the Jazz's defense retreated quickly, giving the Knicks no chance to launch a fast break.

Marbury controlled the pace, dribbled the ball to the right side of the three-point line, and looked at Deron Williams with a grin.

"Newbie, don't fucking underestimate this old bone!"

Marbury started his drive as soon as he finished speaking, but his explosiveness seemed laughable to Deron Williams, who was in peak physical condition.

The New York son failed to break through Deron Williams' defense, so he immediately stopped and faced the top of the key, seemingly trying to dribble out and launch a new attack. Everyone's attention was focused on the perimeter.

As Marbury ran outwards, he suddenly used his wrist to deliver a quick, no-look bounce pass into the paint!
The shot was so sudden that no one on the Jazz team could react. Lynch got the ball and immediately sprang up, slamming it in with one hand over Boozer's head for a score!
"Magic pass! Stephen was amazing!" Hubie Brown, as a traditional coach, would never allow his own players to pass like that. But as a commentator, he admitted that the play was incredibly spectacular.

It wasn't until Lynch completed the dunk that the Jazz players realized what had happened.

Stephon Marbury tilted his head at Deron Williams and winked his right eye defiantly: "Learn from this."

Then, he and Eddie Jones quickly retreated, staring intently ahead.

Their talent is far inferior to that of today's young players, and their physical abilities are far from their peak. Every time they try to keep up with Deron Williams, they are torturing their knees.

But beneath their rusted armor, the warriors' hearts still beat; they would not give up. They thought, at least, they wouldn't hold Lynch back.

They were prepared to be tested on their souls.

Lynch exchanged glances with Marbury and Eddie Jones; they said nothing, but a certain resonance had already formed between them.

The veterans, still going strong, have tipped the scales of victory in their favor, so Lynch doesn't need to worry about Deron Williams doing whatever he wants tonight.

However, no one could stop Lynch from doing whatever he wanted against the Jazz's defense.

Their support, their gaze, their mindset, and their fighting spirit made Lynch feel that he could do anything.

A strong urge to destroy arose within the King of New York.

He wanted to completely crush them.

“Rookie,” Lynch said, staring at Deron Williams as he prepared to receive the ball from the baseline after his dunk, “I hope your soul can withstand the tests ahead, just like theirs.”

(End of this chapter)